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Matthew Pouliot

Strike Zone

NL Team-by-Team Notes

The announcement that Jake Peavy had a torn tendon in his ankle came with a four-week timetable for his return. However, if the ankle fails to mend as hoped, it's quite possible we won't see Peavy again until August or even September. It was a terribly unlucky break for the Padres, who had Peavy reject a trade to the White Sox last month. It's going to be very difficult to move him unless he rejoins the rotation immediately after the All-Star break.

With Peavy out, the Padres are looking at a rotation of Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Chad Gaudin, Josh Geer and perhaps Walter Silva, who threw seven scoreless innings for Triple-A Portland on Friday. Will Inman is off to something of a rough start since a promotion to Triple-A and isn't currently an option, and top prospect Mat Latos, who has a 0.79 ERA in four starts in Double-A, is a long shot to see the majors before September. Wade LeBlanc would seem to be the primary alternative to Silva. Besides Young, no one in the group is an every-week option in NL-only leagues, even with Petco helping out.

The chances of an Adrian Gonzalez or Young trade would seem to be on the way up with Peavy down. The Padres still want to cut payroll, but Peavy and Brian Giles might be unmovable prior to the July 31 deadline. Gonzalez could bring an outstanding return, possibly from the Angels. Young's trade value isn't what it was, but if he could put a run together over the next month, he could still bring back a couple of quality pieces. The Padres badly need a shortstop of the future and could certainly use more young pitching. Given that a Gonzalez-led group may not become a serious contender before the first baseman becomes a free agent after 2011, blowing things up wouldn't be a bad idea.

National League Notes

Arizona - Not that he's been the game's best player or anything like that, but Mark Reynolds is having a season for the ages. He's on pace for 225 strikeouts, yet he's batting .281 anyway. He's also on pace for 43 homers, 106 R, 114 RBI and 33 steals. There just shouldn't be anyway for him to maintain such a respectable average if he stays on this strikeout pace, and the average seems to be the more likely of the two to drop. It's time to start viewing him as a sell-high candidate. … While he went hitless on Sunday, Chris Young likely bought himself some additional time by collecting two homers, three doubles and two walks from Thursday through Saturday. Eric Byrnes will continue to take a backseat. … Tony Clark (wrist) is just 1-for-12 on his rehab assignment, but he still might return as the Diamondbacks' primary DH this week. If not, then Byrnes will likely be in line for increased playing time.

Atlanta - As much of a problem as Jeff Francoeur is, it's well worth noting that Garret Anderson has practically the same line as the Braves' primary left fielder while also hurting the team defensively. The Braves still need another outfielder, and if they go get one, releasing Anderson would make at least as much sense as giving Francoeur away. … Can't Bobby Cox be a little more flexible? First it was his refusal to give Omar Infante any time in the outfield during the first couple of months, and now he's declined to give David Ross a look at first base with Casey Kotchman out. Ross, who homered twice off the bench Sunday, has batted .296/.405/.577 in 71 at-bats this season. Kotchman (shin) is set to return Tuesday, but Ross could still be helpful as an occasional first baseman against left-handers.

Chicago - Kosuke Fukudome has already fanned 14 times this month and is 5-for-41. He struck out a total of 28 times while hitting .309/.439/.507 through the end of May. He's struggling to handle inside pitches again, and there's no telling whether he'll be able to make in-season adjustments after failing miserably in that area last year. The Cubs are right to be concerned, and mixed leaguers will probably want to look elsewhere for now. … Rich Harden impressed in his first start back Saturday, showing one of his better fastballs of the year. He's not through getting hurt, but maybe he'll be better now than he was during the first six weeks of the season. … Ryan Theriot's fantasy value will take a hit if the Cubs keep batting him seventh after moving him down to that spot Sunday. The Cubs haven't been generating any offense in the bottom half of the order, so Theriot figures to be a bust in runs scored until he moves back up.

Cincinnati - The Reds completely blew it by letting Willy Taveras play through his hamstring injury. It's remarkable that anyone who had ever seen him play could have believed that Taveras would be useful while running at less than 100 percent. Taveras, who is in an 0-for-32 slump, did get Sunday off, but he'll likely be right back out there on Tuesday. Is it really any wonder that I can't take the Reds seriously as a contender? … Edinson Volquez (elbow) and Edwin Encarnacion (wrist) appear to be out through the end of the month. Unfortunately for the Reds, Jerry Hairston Jr.'s play has dropped off considerably as the replacement at third base and Adam Rosales hasn't done much of anything in a month. Dusty Baker is inclined to stick with Hairston, but maybe the Reds will resume looking for outside help after Hairston's defensive woes cost Johnny Cueto on Sunday. Mark DeRosa would be a fantastic fit. ... Joey Votto (anxiety) seems likely to beat the other DL players back, but there's yet to be any indication that it will happen this week.

Colorado - Sunday's win marked the Rockies' 11th straight, as the firing of Clint Hurdle has rallied the club. The benching of Garrett Atkins has also worked wonders, though Atkins did get a start Sunday and went 3-for-4. The Rockies are still a week away from playing in AL parks, so Atkins likely will continue to log time on the bench for now. While Ian Stewart has cooled off some, he's still hitting .327 with five homers this month. … The Rockies' surge probably means that Huston Street will stick around, at least until the second half of July. Manny Corpas is still a pretty good bet to close for the Rockies during the final two months. … Jason Hammel's recent success caused the Rockies to option Franklin Morales to Triple-A rather than return the lefty to the rotation, but Hammel, who improved to 4-0 in his last five starts by beating the Mariners on Sunday, isn't recommended in NL-only leagues. He's still giving up a lot of hits and he's pretty lucky more of them haven't gone for homers.

The announcement that Jake Peavy had a torn tendon in his ankle came with a four-week timetable for his return. However, if the ankle fails to mend as hoped, it's quite possible we won't see Peavy again until August or even September. It was a terribly unlucky break for the Padres, who had Peavy reject a trade to the White Sox last month. It's going to be very difficult to move him unless he rejoins the rotation immediately after the All-Star break.

With Peavy out, the Padres are looking at a rotation of Chris Young, Kevin Correia, Chad Gaudin, Josh Geer and perhaps Walter Silva, who threw seven scoreless innings for Triple-A Portland on Friday. Will Inman is off to something of a rough start since a promotion to Triple-A and isn't currently an option, and top prospect Mat Latos, who has a 0.79 ERA in four starts in Double-A, is a long shot to see the majors before September. Wade LeBlanc would seem to be the primary alternative to Silva. Besides Young, no one in the group is an every-week option in NL-only leagues, even with Petco helping out.

The chances of an Adrian Gonzalez or Young trade would seem to be on the way up with Peavy down. The Padres still want to cut payroll, but Peavy and Brian Giles might be unmovable prior to the July 31 deadline. Gonzalez could bring an outstanding return, possibly from the Angels. Young's trade value isn't what it was, but if he could put a run together over the next month, he could still bring back a couple of quality pieces. The Padres badly need a shortstop of the future and could certainly use more young pitching. Given that a Gonzalez-led group may not become a serious contender before the first baseman becomes a free agent after 2011, blowing things up wouldn't be a bad idea.

National League Notes

Arizona - Not that he's been the game's best player or anything like that, but Mark Reynolds is having a season for the ages. He's on pace for 225 strikeouts, yet he's batting .281 anyway. He's also on pace for 43 homers, 106 R, 114 RBI and 33 steals. There just shouldn't be anyway for him to maintain such a respectable average if he stays on this strikeout pace, and the average seems to be the more likely of the two to drop. It's time to start viewing him as a sell-high candidate. … While he went hitless on Sunday, Chris Young likely bought himself some additional time by collecting two homers, three doubles and two walks from Thursday through Saturday. Eric Byrnes will continue to take a backseat. … Tony Clark (wrist) is just 1-for-12 on his rehab assignment, but he still might return as the Diamondbacks' primary DH this week. If not, then Byrnes will likely be in line for increased playing time.

Atlanta - As much of a problem as Jeff Francoeur is, it's well worth noting that Garret Anderson has practically the same line as the Braves' primary left fielder while also hurting the team defensively. The Braves still need another outfielder, and if they go get one, releasing Anderson would make at least as much sense as giving Francoeur away. … Can't Bobby Cox be a little more flexible? First it was his refusal to give Omar Infante any time in the outfield during the first couple of months, and now he's declined to give David Ross a look at first base with Casey Kotchman out. Ross, who homered twice off the bench Sunday, has batted .296/.405/.577 in 71 at-bats this season. Kotchman (shin) is set to return Tuesday, but Ross could still be helpful as an occasional first baseman against left-handers.

Chicago - Kosuke Fukudome has already fanned 14 times this month and is 5-for-41. He struck out a total of 28 times while hitting .309/.439/.507 through the end of May. He's struggling to handle inside pitches again, and there's no telling whether he'll be able to make in-season adjustments after failing miserably in that area last year. The Cubs are right to be concerned, and mixed leaguers will probably want to look elsewhere for now. … Rich Harden impressed in his first start back Saturday, showing one of his better fastballs of the year. He's not through getting hurt, but maybe he'll be better now than he was during the first six weeks of the season. … Ryan Theriot's fantasy value will take a hit if the Cubs keep batting him seventh after moving him down to that spot Sunday. The Cubs haven't been generating any offense in the bottom half of the order, so Theriot figures to be a bust in runs scored until he moves back up.

Cincinnati - The Reds completely blew it by letting Willy Taveras play through his hamstring injury. It's remarkable that anyone who had ever seen him play could have believed that Taveras would be useful while running at less than 100 percent. Taveras, who is in an 0-for-32 slump, did get Sunday off, but he'll likely be right back out there on Tuesday. Is it really any wonder that I can't take the Reds seriously as a contender? … Edinson Volquez (elbow) and Edwin Encarnacion (wrist) appear to be out through the end of the month. Unfortunately for the Reds, Jerry Hairston Jr.'s play has dropped off considerably as the replacement at third base and Adam Rosales hasn't done much of anything in a month. Dusty Baker is inclined to stick with Hairston, but maybe the Reds will resume looking for outside help after Hairston's defensive woes cost Johnny Cueto on Sunday. Mark DeRosa would be a fantastic fit. ... Joey Votto (anxiety) seems likely to beat the other DL players back, but there's yet to be any indication that it will happen this week.

Colorado - Sunday's win marked the Rockies' 11th straight, as the firing of Clint Hurdle has rallied the club. The benching of Garrett Atkins has also worked wonders, though Atkins did get a start Sunday and went 3-for-4. The Rockies are still a week away from playing in AL parks, so Atkins likely will continue to log time on the bench for now. While Ian Stewart has cooled off some, he's still hitting .327 with five homers this month. … The Rockies' surge probably means that Huston Street will stick around, at least until the second half of July. Manny Corpas is still a pretty good bet to close for the Rockies during the final two months. … Jason Hammel's recent success caused the Rockies to option Franklin Morales to Triple-A rather than return the lefty to the rotation, but Hammel, who improved to 4-0 in his last five starts by beating the Mariners on Sunday, isn't recommended in NL-only leagues. He's still giving up a lot of hits and he's pretty lucky more of them haven't gone for homers.

Florida - The Marlins are trying Gaby Sanchez at third base in Triple-A, suggesting that they may finally be looking to make a move with Emilio Bonifacio. Of course, their best alternatives at third base are currently starting at second base and in left field. Sanchez has played third base in the past, but he doesn't have the range to serve as much more than a stopgap there. The Marlins would likely be better off with either Sanchez or Jorge Cantu in left, the other at first base and Chris Coghlan at third. Moving Dan Uggla to third is something they could have done over the winter, but it's not something they can try during the season. … The Miami Herald reported that the Marlins turned down a Jeff Francoeur-for-Cody Ross deal before the Braves acquired Nate McLouth. Considering that Francoeur makes more than Ross now and likely will remain the more expensive of the two players next year, it's doubtful that the Marlins gave it much consideration at all.

Houston - Working the ninth with a five-run lead, Jose Valverde struck out the side Sunday in his second appearance back from the disabled list. That should clear the way for him to return to the closer's role this week, with LaTroy Hawkins going back to setup duties. Hawkins is worth holding on to in most formats, as the Astros could trade Valverde next month. However, it's possible that Hawkins could also be dealt, probably to a team that would leave him in a setup role. … Kaz Matsui (hamstring) is coming back on Tuesday. Matt Kata figures to be demoted, with Edwin Maysonet sticking around as a utilityman. Maysonet is playing over his head with a .333 average in 51 at-bats, but that could get him time at third base over Geoff Blum and Jeff Keppinger. … The Astros are without any decent DH options to utilize in AL parks this week, so they'll probably use the spot to rest regulars, Carlos Lee in particular. Darin Erstad should benefit.

Los Angeles - Matt Kemp went 2-for-3 with a homer on Saturday, which is hardly unusual for him. No, what made it notable was that he did it as a No. 9 hitter. Impressively, Kemp hasn't let it bother him that Joe Torre has had him hitting at the bottom of the order behind inferior players. He's definitely being slighted -- after all, he's had success as both a leadoff man and a No. 3 hitter in his young career -- but he seems happy just to know he'll be in the lineup every day. … The plan is for Eric Stults to come off the disabled list and face the Angels on Saturday, but he's still having some problems with his sprained left thumb. NL-only leaguers will probably want to keep him reserved. … It looks like Xavier Paul's window is going to be pretty small. He's still at least a week away from returning from an infection, and he's not going to be needed once Manny Ramirez returns in three weeks.

Milwaukee - Corey Hart may have woken up with two homers, a triple and a double in the series against the White Sox. The Brewers have refused to bench him for more than a day at a time, even though Jody Gerut may well be the better option in right field against right-handers. Making a move more difficult is that Hart, who is typically significantly better against left-handed pitching, actually had an OPS 130 points higher against righties entering Sunday's action. The two homers he hit off Mark Buehrle then were his first off a lefty this season. … Manny Parra really left the Brewers with no choice other than to demote him following his lousy outing Saturday. That they're off both Thursday and next Monday was just a bonus, as a fifth starter won't be needed again until June 27. It's highly unlikely that Parra himself will get the call then, and taking Seth McClung out of the pen is hardly an ideal option. Mike Burns seems to be the most likely internal option, though he's a mediocre middle reliever at best. The Brewers should try to find some outside help. Boston might be interested in third baseman Taylor Green or catcher Jonathan Lucroy as a possible return for Brad Penny.

New York - Daniel Murphy just isn't getting the job done at first base, and the Mets are going to be in a lot of trouble if Gary Sheffield's knee forces him from the lineup once the team loses the DH spot on Friday. Unfortunately, there are no additional quality replacements in the minors. Nick Evans hasn't bounced back from his dreadful start, and Mike Lamb has been terrible. Mike Carp, who would have been worthy of an opportunity right about now, was sent to Seattle in the J.J. Putz deal. If the Mets opt to send Murphy down, Fernando Tatis would likely take over at first base. Fernando Martinez figures to stick around for at least as long as Sheffield's knee remains an issue. … Johan Santana, who was blasted for nine runs by the Yankees on Sunday, has experienced a bit of a decline in his velocity. The Mets say it could be a blister issue, and there's nothing else to suggest that he's having any arm woes. I wouldn't panic. … Fernando Nieve will get more starts after Saturday's gem, and he could stick in the rotation over Tim Redding once John Maine returns. Still, he's too risky to play in NL-only leagues right now. He's always had the stuff, but consistency is a major issue and he's tended to struggle to pitch deep into games, even in the minors.

Philadelphia - After getting a cortisone shot for his troublesome knee, Brad Lidge figures to be ready to pitch when he's eligible to come off the disabled list on June 22. However, he'll probably be working in the minors on that date. Expect Ryan Madson to remain in the closer's role through the end of the month. … Neither Antonio Bastardo nor J.A. Happ had any luck against Boston, but the Red Sox lineup is a tough assignment for a left-hander. Both should be kept active in NL-only leagues this week. … Jason Donald's knee injury shouldn't take him out of trade talks, not when he's likely to be back in a month. The Phillies may choose to move the Triple-A infielder in order to acquire pitching help before the deadline. The Red Sox would likely still be interested in Donald for Penny if it were offered.

Pittsburgh - The Pirates might be running out of patience with Brandon Moss, who is down to .243/.289/.343 for the season. He did hit a respectable .305/.345/.451 during May, but he's not showing the kind of power he needs to make up for his high strikeout rate. The Pirates could hand right field to Delwyn Young and see what he can do. He should be picked up in any NL-only leagues in which he's still available. … Barring a setback, it looks like Ryan Doumit (wrist) will return right around July 1. Robinzon Diaz will be sent down once Doumit comes off the DL. … Charlie Morton is being pushed back to Saturday because of his hamstring injury. He's not worth using in NL-only leagues right now.

St. Louis - Miguel Tejada to St. Louis makes plenty of sense for both the Cardinals and Astros, but it seems unlikely that Houston will be willing to help out a rival, even if it benefits the team in the long run. It's going to be easier for the Cardinals to upgrade at third base than at shortstop. … The Cards demoted Brian Barden, even though he was their best defensive option at third base. With Khalil Greene's return on hold again, the Cards have Brendan Ryan, Joe Thurston and Tyler Greene sharing time between two positions. All three are worth using in NL-only leagues, but it's doubtful that one will step up and become a real contributor.

San Diego - Scott Hairston (biceps) appears doubtful to return Thursday when eligible. With Tony Gwynn Jr. playing very well at the moment, Hairston could see a lot of time in the corners once he does come back. … Everth Cabrera, due to return Friday from a broken hamate bone, is hitting .361/.439/.444 through 10 games on his rehab assignment. He'll likely see increasing time over Luis Rodriguez at shortstop as the year goes on, and while he shouldn't hit much at all, he could be of some use in NL-only leagues thanks to his steal potential.

San Francisco - Travis Ishikawa returned from the bereavement list, but there's just no role for him in San Francisco with Pablo Sandoval still locked in at first base. The Giants should go ahead and risk sending him through waivers. He'd probably clear, but even if he doesn't, John Bowker and Jesus Guzman are at least as intriguing as potential options at first and Angel Villalona could be the future in 2011 or 2012. … Emmanuel Burriss is struggling again, but Kevin Frandsen wasn't able to overtake him at second base while replacing Ishikawa on the roster. If Sandoval does eventually move back to third or a third baseman is acquired in trade, than Juan Uribe could shift to second and Burriss could be send down to play regularly in the minors for a while. The Giants, though, do like Burriss's glove and would prefer not to have to make a switch.

Washington - Maybe Manny Acta just wants it over with? I'm not sure how else to explain his decision to play Corey Patterson in right field Sunday. Patterson was only called up Saturday because Josh Willingham went on the bereavement list. Willingham figures to miss most of the week. … It looks like Jordan Zimmermann's elbow soreness was just as mild as the Nationals said it was. He returned Saturday after being pushed back four days and pitched very well against the Rays. … With Zimmermann proving to be healthy, Ross Detwiler figures to be the choice to go to make room for the returning Scott Olsen (shoulder) in the rotation. Craig Stammen is another possibility, but he's outpitched Detwiler recently. … Stammen might go later if the Nationals want to give Collin Balester another chance. After a lousy first month, Balester has allowed just four runs over his last five starts for Triple-A Syracuse.